Suppobtiitg- ships  topmasts



THOS. BATTY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SUPPORTING SHIPS TOPMASTS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,518, dated September 4, 1855.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS BATTY, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manner of Supporting the Topmasts of Ships; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1, is a side view of parts of a lower-mast, top-mast and standing topsail yard, illustrating the whole of my invention. Fig. 2, is a front view of the same, and Fig. 8, is a plan view showing the attachment of the yard to the top-mast.

Similar letters of reference indicate cor responding parts in the several figures.

This invention consists, in a novel and more effective method of supporting the topmasts and top-gallant masts of ships and other vessels which is particularly applicable when standing top-sail yards are employed, but also applicable to vessels of the usual rig.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, is the lower mast, and B, the top-mast.

Before describing the manner of supporting the top-mast and top-sail yard, I will briefly point out the usual method of sup porting the top-mast, by way of assisting the explanation. The lower mast is fitted with trestle trees a, a, which rest upon shoulders which are termed the hounds and the whole weight of the top-mast and all the upper spars and of the rigging, is thrown on the trestle trees, being supported by a fid b, resting on the trestle trees. This method of supporting the top-mast and superincumbent parts of the rigging, fails in many cases with the ordinary rig, sometimes the hounds or the trestle trees giving way and at other times the heel of the top-mast being split; but it is entirely inadequate to the support of the additional weight of a standing top-sail yard, and therefore that yard has generally bee-n attached to the cap 0, of the lower mast, but this is objection able, as it too much weakens the cap.

Having thus described the difficulties attending the application of the standing top sail yard, I will proceed, first, to describe the manner in which I support the top mast and then the manner of applying the standing top-sail yard thereto.

(Z, is a wrought iron strap, which passes over the head 6, of the lower mast and over its cap 0, and is bolted securely to the head of the mast. The ends of this strap, which hang over the sides of the cap are formed into ears to receive the eyes at the upper ends of two diagonal iron stays c, c, the lower ends of which are also furnished with eyes to receive a bolt f, which passes through the top-mast a short distance above the trestle trees. A broad iron strap 9, passes under the heel and up the sides of the topmast high enough for the bolt f, to pass through it so as to relieve the mast, where the bolt passes through, by throwing the weight on the broad strap 9. The stays e, e, are made each in two parts with a right hand screw on the end of one, and a left hand screw on the end of the other, and are connected by a right and left hand nut 71, by screwing up which any proportion of the weight may be taken by the stays and thrown directly on the top of the lower mast. The stays are not intended to take all the weight of the top mast, as I use a fid Z), like what is commonly employed, but

smaller. This fid, I prefer to be made of iron and to pass through the strap 9, and be secured by loops 7c, is, outside the trestle trees, through the common kind of wooden fid may be employed. By the aid of the screws and nut h, the top-mast and all the superincumbent parts, can be set up at any time.

The above method of supporting the topmast, &c., may be advantageously applied even when no standing top-sail yard is employed. Instead of having a strap 9, to pass under the heel of the top-mast, plates may be bolted to the mast above the fids. This latter method might be adopted in applying the invention in an old ship.

2', 2", are two ring clamps secured to the top-mast, one a short distance above and the other some distance below the cap 0, of the lower mast, for the purpose of supporting a small wrought iron swing crane, Z, Z, from which the standing topsail yard C, is slung to swing in a horizontal direction. The lower part or stay Z, of this crane is provided with a pivot m, which fits to a suitable eye or bearing formed on the front of the clamp i. The upper part or arm Z, is jointed to the upper clamp i, by a pin m,

which is in line with the pivot m, so that the pivot m and pivot m, form an axis parallel with the 'inast. The yard is slung by two quarter bands, 11,, n, from the ends of an iron sling j, which is suspended at the center of its length by shackles 0, 0, from the crane. Iron stays p, p, are applied from the ends of the sling j, to a loose collar 1", which is fitted together in two parts, to turn freely on the arm Z, of the crane, which is perpendicular to the mast. These stays keep the yard in proper condition horizontally and only allow it to swing in that direction or around the mast, on the axis m, m, but they allow it to swing up or down on the arm Z, as its axis of motion, though suspended some distance below the said axis. The shackle connection 0, 0, allows the free play of the sling j, which is necessary to enable the yard to swing up or down. By slinging the yard below the axis Z, on which it has its up and down motion, it has always a tendency to assume a horizontal position and is better balanced than when applied to swing on a pivot intersecting the center, in the usual way. By slinging it from quarter bands at some distance from its center, the strain upon it is less, than if slung at the center of its length.

The within described method of support ing the top-mast may also be applied with advantage to the top-gallant mast.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

The employment, for the purpose of supporting or assisting to support the top-mast or top gallant mast and superincumbentspars and rigging and for setting up the same when necessary, of the two diagonal double screwed iron stays e, constructed and applied substantially as herein described, between the cap of the lower mast and the heel of the top-mast.

THOMAS BATTY.

lVitnesses:

Jos. G120. MAsoN, WM. TUSCH. 

